Friday, March 13, 2009

IRT - Florida Spring Break - Quarter finals

For the fourth tournament in a row, the top four players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) will meet in the semi finals of a Tier 1 event, as they were all victorious in the quarter finals of the Florida Spring Break tournament in Sarasota on Friday.

But it was the top seed, Rocky Carson, who had the most difficulty, as he needed five games before defeating former #1 Jason Mannino, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 11-3. He'll now face fourth seed Alvaro Beltran for only the second time this season. Beltran beat Shane Vanderson in the quarters, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9.

In their previous meeting, Carson defeated Beltran in five games after Beltran won the first two in the final of the California Open.

On the bottom half of the draw, Kane Waselenchuk, third seed and seven time winner on tour this season had the easiest time of it, as he defeated Ben Croft in three straight games, 11-2, 11-6, 11-5.

Waselenchuk will have a rematch with Jack Huczek on Saturday, as second seeded Huczek won his quarter final match against Mitch Williams, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9. Huczek and Waselenchuk have met in the finals of the last three tournaments, with Waselenchuk coming out on top each time.

Thus, both Huczek and Beltran will likely feel they have something to prove Saturday. But will either be up to the task?

Florida Spring Break Tournament
Quarter finals - Friday


Rocky Carson d. Jason Mannino, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 11-3
Alvaro Beltran d. Shane Vanderson, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9

Kane Waselenchuk d. Ben Croft, 11-2, 11-6, 11-5
Jack Huczek d. Mitch Williams, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9

Semi-finals - Saturday

Rocky Carson v. Alvaro Beltran at 5:00 PM (eastern)
Jack Huczek v. Kane Waselenchuk at 4:00 PM (eastern)

Follow the bouncing ball....

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